Gaming system and a method of triggering feature gaming based on hit rate

ABSTRACT

A method of triggering a multi-player game, comprising: determining a current number of eligible gaming machines; communicating current hit rate data based on the current number of eligible gaming machines to at least each eligible gaming machine; determining at each eligible gaming machine whether to trigger the multi-player game at a hit rate based on the current hit rate data.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/331,033, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,425,302, having a filing dateof Dec. 9, 2008, which claims priority to Australian Provisional PatentApplication No. 2007906824, having a filing date of Dec. 14, 2007 andAustralian Provisional Patent Application No. 2008901459 filed Mar. 27,2008, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gaming system and a method of gaming.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently most electronic gaming machines deployed to the market arestandalone gaming machines, in the sense that game play is carried outby electronics located within the gaming machine cabinet such that aplayer plays a game by operating that gaming machine and the player'splay is independent of other players playing other gaming machines.

Some venues conduct tournament games where players play the same game ona plurality of neighbouring gaming machines for a period of time; thewinner being judged, for example, as the player who accumulates the mostcredits in the time period.

Other tournament games have been proposed where players participate in acommon game displayed on a common display. For example, where playerstake turns to make selections of objects to try to reveal a prize.

There is a need for other multi-player games.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of triggering amulti-player game, comprising:

-   -   determining a current number of eligible gaming machines;    -   communicating current hit rate data based on the current number        of eligible gaming machines to at least each eligible gaming        machine;    -   determining at each eligible gaming machine whether to trigger        the multi-player game at a hit rate based on the current hit        rate data.

In an embodiment, eligible gaming machines are active gaming machines ofa set of gaming machines.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data includes the number ofeligible gaming machines and each gaming machine determines the hit ratefrom the number.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data is the current hit rate.

In an embodiment, each eligible gaming machine determines whether totrigger the multi-player game as part of each game round.

In a second aspect the invention provides a gaming system comprising aplurality of gaming machines, the gaming system arranged to conduct amulti-player game to be played by two or more players, the gaming systemarranged to trigger the multi-player game by:

-   -   determining a current number of eligible gaming machines;    -   communicating current hit rate data based on the current number        of eligible gaming machines to at least each eligible gaming        machine;    -   determining at each eligible gaming machine whether to trigger        the multi-player game at a hit rate based on the current hit        rate data.

In an embodiment, the gaming system comprises a feature controllerarranged to determine the number of eligible gaming machines andcommunicate the hit rate data.

In an embodiment, the feature controller is provided by one of thegaming machines.

In an embodiment, the feature controller is separate to the gamingmachines.

In an embodiment, eligible gaming machines are active gaming machines ofa set of gaming machines.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data includes the number ofeligible gaming machines and each gaming machine determines the hit ratefrom the number.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data is the current hit rate.

In an embodiment, each eligible gaming machine determines whether totrigger the multi-player game as part of each game round.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising:

-   -   starting a multi-player game to be played by two or more        players;    -   conducting game rounds for each of the players until an end        condition is met, each game round comprising, for each player:        -   (a) selecting a plurality of symbols for display at a            plurality of display positions on a display associated with            the player, and        -   (b) updating a player progress record from the displayed            symbols of designated symbols;    -   determining at least one winning player when the end condition        is met from each player's progress record; and    -   making an award to each winning player.

In an embodiment, the end condition is that at least one player achievesan outcome.

In an embodiment, the outcome is that a designated number of designatedsymbols is reached by at least one of the players and wherein eachplayer progress record stores a current number of designated symbols andin each game round, the player progress record is updated by determininga number of designated symbols for the round from the displayed symbols.

In an embodiment, the method comprises, for each game round, visuallyrepresenting each player's record by filling individual ones of aplurality of progress display positions corresponding to the designatedtotal with the number of designated symbols determined for the gameround.

In an embodiment, the award is dependent at least partly on the timetaken to achieve the outcome.

In an embodiment, the end condition is that a designated number of gamerounds is completed.

In an embodiment, the award is based at least partly on the player'sposition based on the player progress record.

In an embodiment, the award is based at least partly on a level achievedby the player by the completion of the designated number of game rounds.

In an embodiment, the display positions correspond to visible symbols ofrespective ones of a plurality of stopped reels and symbols selected fordisplay for each reel.

In an embodiment, each reel has a reel sequence and the symbols for eachreel are selected by selecting a stop position for each reel sequence.

In an embodiment, the game is started as a feature game in response to atrigger event, and the players play independently prior to the triggerevent.

In an embodiment, the trigger event is determined by determining acurrent number of eligible gaming machines;

-   -   communicating current hit rate data based on the current number        of eligible gaming machines to at least each eligible gaming        machine;    -   determining at each eligible gaming machine whether to trigger        the multi-player game at a hit rate based on the current hit        rate data.

In an embodiment, eligible gaming machines are active gaming machines ofa set of gaming machines.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data includes the number ofeligible gaming machines and each gaming machine determines the hit ratefrom the number.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data is the current hit rate.

In an embodiment, each eligible gaming machine determines whether totrigger the multi-player game as part of each game round.

In an embodiment, the set of symbols from which symbols are selected arespecific to the feature game.

In an embodiment, the symbols are comprised of the designated symbol andblank symbols.

In an embodiment, the method comprises controlling the game rounds witha tournament controller to ensure no player has an unintended advantagebased on the number of game rounds played by each player.

In an embodiment, each player plays a base game on the gaming machineand the trigger event occurs on the gaming machine of one of theplayers.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising aplurality of gaming machines, each of the gaming machines comprising adisplay, the gaming system arranged to conduct a multi-player game to beplayed by two or more players, the gaming system arranged to:

-   -   start a multi-player game to be played by two or more players;    -   conduct game rounds for each of the players until an end        condition is met, each game round comprising, for each player:        -   (a) selecting a plurality of symbols for display at a            plurality of display positions on a display associated with            the player, and        -   (b) updating a player progress record from the displayed            symbols of designated symbols;    -   determine at least one winning player when the end condition is        met from each player's progress record; and    -   make an award to each winning player.

In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to conduct the game as afeature game in response to a trigger event occurring in relation toplay of a game on one of the gaming machine.

In an embodiment, the gaming system comprises a feature controllerarranged to control the gaming machines to conduct the feature game inresponse to the trigger event occurring.

In an embodiment, the feature controller is arranged to control the playof game rounds on the plurality of gaming machines such that no playerhas an unintended advantage based on the number of game rounds played byeach player.

In an embodiment, the gaming machines are in data communication with oneanother, and the feature controller is implemented by a server module ofone of the gaming machines.

In an embodiment, the symbols are selected for each gaming machine by aclient module of each gaming machine.

In an embodiment, the client modules communicate data to the servermodule after each game round and the server module is arranged todetermine either that there is a winning player based on the data or toinstruct the client modules to conduct at least one further game round.

In an embodiment, the end condition is that at least one player achievesan outcome.

In an embodiment, the outcome is that a designated number of designatedsymbols is reached by at least one of the players and wherein eachplayer progress record stores a current number of designated symbols andin each game round, the player progress record is updated by determininga number of designated symbols for the round from the displayed symbols.

In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged, for each game round,such that each gaming machine visually represents each player's recordby filling individual ones of a plurality of progress display positionscorresponding to the designated total with the number of designatedsymbols determined for the game round.

In an embodiment, the award is dependent at least partly on the timetaken to achieve the outcome.

In an embodiment, the end condition is that a designated number of gamerounds is completed.

In an embodiment, the award is based at least partly on the player'sposition based on the player progress record.

In an embodiment, the award is based at least partly on a level achievedby the player by the completion of the designated number of game rounds.

In an embodiment, the display positions correspond to visible symbols ofrespective ones of a plurality of stopped reels and symbols selected fordisplay for each reel.

In an embodiment, each reel has a reel sequence and the symbols for eachreel are selected by selecting a stop position for each reel sequence.

In an embodiment, the trigger event is determined by determining acurrent number of eligible gaming machines;

-   -   communicating current hit rate data based on the current number        of eligible gaming machines to at least each eligible gaming        machine;    -   determining at each eligible gaming machine whether to trigger        the multi-player game at a hit rate based on the current hit        rate data.

In an embodiment, eligible gaming machines are active gaming machines ofa set of gaming machines.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data includes the number ofeligible gaming machines and each gaming machine determines the hit ratefrom the number.

In an embodiment, the current hit rate data is the current hit rate.

In an embodiment, each eligible gaming machine determines whether totrigger the multi-player game as part of each game round.

In an embodiment, the set of symbols from which symbols are selected arespecific to the feature game.

In an embodiment, the symbols are comprised of the designated symbol andblank symbols.

In an embodiment, each player plays a base game on the gaming machineand the trigger event occurs on the gaming machine of one of theplayers.

It will be appreciated that the above first and third aspects or secondand fourth aspects can be combined.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides computer program code whichwhen executed implements one or both of the above methods.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a computer readable mediumcomprising the above program code.

In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a data signal comprising theabove program code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments will now be described in relation to theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine of the embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the components of a gaming machine of theembodiments;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the memory of a gaming machine;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a player marketing module of the gamingsystem of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows how a plurality of gaming machines may be connectedtogether in a gaming system;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a gaming machine of theembodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary progress display;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a gaming method of the embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a further flowchart of a gaming method of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system having aplurality of gaming machines which can be played by players to play amulti-player game implemented as a feature game. In the game, gamerounds are conducted for each of the players until a designated numberof designated symbols is reached by one or more of the players. Eachgame round involves selecting a plurality of symbols, determining anumber of designated symbols for the round and updating a player recordof designated symbols. When one or more players reaches the designatednumber, at least one winning player is determined and an award is madeto each winning player. In an alternative embodiment, the game isconducted for a fixed number of game rounds and awards are made to theleading player at the end of the game rounds.

In the embodiment, each gaming machine is capable of operating in astandalone mode and in a client/server mode wherein one of the gamingmachines acts as a server and the other gaming machine acts as a client,and the game is implemented in client/server mode with the serverimplementing a feature controller that controls the feature game.

A stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The gamingmachine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which isdisplayed representations of a game that can be played by a player. Amid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 forenabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particularduring game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanismfor example a coin input chute and/or a bill collector. Other creditinput mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader forreading a smart card, debit card or credit card.

Artwork and/or information, for example pay tables and details of bonusawards and other information or images relating to the game may beprovided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 ismounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from thegaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of a video display unit,particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, thedisplay 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, or any othersuitable video display unit. The top box 26 also includes a videodisplay which may be of the same type as the display 14, or of adifferent type.

A player marketing module (PMM) 50 having a display 52 is connected tothe gaming machine 10. The main purpose of the PMM 50 is to allow theplayer to interact with a player loyalty system. The PMM has a magneticcard reader for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, forexample as part of a loyalty program. However other reading devices maybe employed and the player tracking device may be in the form of a card,flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being readby the reading device.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gamingmachine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 1.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 arestored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with theprocessor 102. Herein the term “processor” is used to refer genericallyto any device that can process game play instructions in accordance withgame play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller,programmable logic device or other computational device, a generalpurpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server.

Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile andnon-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with suchmemories being collectively represented by the memory 103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes includingensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, aninput/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheraldevices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/orthe peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memoryfor storing associated instructions and data for use with theinput/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random numbergenerator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference torandom numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, a player interface 120 includesperipheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101comprise one or more displays 106, buttons and/or a touch screen 107, acard and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/orcoin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additionalhardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardwaremay be omitted as required for the specific implementation.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplarymemory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a massstorage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds programfiles for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or gamerelated code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to storegame programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/orauthenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a player marketing module 50. The playermarketing module 50 is connected via serial input/output ports 57 toserial input output ports of the input/output section 105 of theelectronic gaming machine. The player marketing module has a card reader54 and a display 52 which may be an LCD touch screen display. The PMM 50may also have buttons 53 for receiving a player input (at least inembodiments where there is no touch screen display) and a speaker 51.Input received from the card reader 54 is processed by processor 55based on the data stored in memory 56. The PMM 50 is connected to aSystem such as Aristocrat's SYSTEM 7000 by a system port 58. The PMMalso has an Ethernet port 59.

In most current gaming machines, such as the MK VI gaming machineproduced by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd, the gaming machinehas a number of serial ports and the PMM is connected to a protocol portwhich is adapted to communicate with a System (such as the SYSTEM 7000produced by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd) in accordance with aprotocol specified for the jurisdiction (e.g. ASP, SAS). The PMMinterprets the data received at the serial port 57 and sends it on tothe gaming system via system port which is typically another serialport.

In the embodiment, each PMM is also connected via a separate serial port57 connection to another serial port of the gaming machine. In the caseof the MK VI machine this could be either a spare port or the debugport. The processor executes a Serial to Ethernet Adapter 55A usingSerial to Ethernet Adapter code 56A stored in memory 56. The Adapter 55Ais arranged to convert all serial communications to Ethernetcommunication protocols and output them to the Ethernet via Ethernetport 59.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the Serial to Ethernetadapter would not be required for a gaming machine that supported nativeEthernet communications (i.e. had it's own Ethernet port). Further, insome embodiments there could be a mixture of machines with and withoutnative Ethernet.

A possible gaming system 500 configuration is shown in FIG. 5 from whichit will be seen that a plurality of gaming machines 10A . . . 10N,having a plurality of respective PMM's 50A . . . 50N, each of which isconnected to the gaming machine via serial connection 510A . . . 510N.Each of the PMM's 50A . . . 50N is also connected via Ethernetconnection 520A . . . 520N to Ethernet hub 530. The number of gamingmachines shown in FIG. 5 is exemplary, for example there may be twentygaming machines.

It is possible for the gaming machines thus networked to communicatewith one another over the Ethernet 520. In the embodiment, Ethernetcompatible protocols allow broadcast communications (e.g. to a broadcastaddress) as well as addressed communications to be made between one ofthe gaming machines and another of the gaming machines. One of thegaming machines acts as a server 10A in the gaming system 500illustrated in FIG. 5. In this respect, in the FIG. 5, gaming machine10A is designated as a Master (i.e. the server) whereas the remaininggaming machines 10B to 10N are designated as Slaves. In the embodiment,the server module 620 implements a feature controller 621.

In the embodiment, each of the gaming machines has the samearchitecture. FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram of a gamecontroller of the gaming machines. The game controller 101 can beprogrammed by code loaded into memory 103 to carry out the functions.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that code can be loaded in anumber of ways including by downloading a data signal to the memory overa network or from a computer readable medium or by loading it into partof the memory, e.g. EEPROM 103B before installing the memory. The gamecontroller 101 includes a client module 630 and a server module 620. Theserver module 620 is adapted to communicate with other game controllersvia the input/output ports 610 (as is the client module). The clientmodule includes a standalone module 631 arranged to implement thestandalone game, a server game module 633 arranged to receiveinstructions from a server module by which may be server module 620 orthe server module of another gaming machine when the gaming machine isoperating in client/server mode and a common function module 632 whichincludes functions common to both the stand alone module 631 and theserver game module 633 for example, processing of input credits orcontrolling the display. In this embodiment, the standalone game is abase game 631A and the server game is a tournament feature game 633A.

The Serial/Ethernet adapter 55A includes a mater resolution functionwhich determines which of the gaming machines is to be the Master andhence act as the feature controller 621. A start-up procedure alsoestablishes how many machines are connected in the network (the numbermay vary, for example if a machine is out of service).

Initially, each gaming machine 10 conducts the base game 631A with thestandalone module 631. In an embodiment there are 20 game machines. Inthis embodiment, the base game is known as “LUCKY 88” and has fixed 20number paylines. Players can bet 1, 2, 5, 10 or 25 credits per line,such that there is a fixed minimum bet of 25 credits which include 20credits for all the base game features and 5 credits for the tournamentgame. In the embodiment the standalone module 620 monitors for at leastone trigger event that can cause the transition from standalone mode toclient/server mode and from play of the base game. This trigger will beoutput by the client module 630 on which it occurs to the Master 10A viathe Ethernet. Therefore, the Master 10A is actively listening for thetrigger. In the embodiment, when a tournament feature is triggered,machines will only be eligible to win prizes in the game if a game or alocal feature game is currently being played, and any input required bythe player has been made within a configured time period (e.g. the last15 seconds)—this includes making a base game bet, local feature choiceor gamble choice.

There is a “time out” meter to indicate that a player should make aninput to maintain their eligibility.

It is placed on the top right hand corner of the game screen anddecrements (e.g. from 15 to 0 seconds) to indicate to the player thatthe machine is eligible for the tournament. The last 5 seconds are to beaccompanied by a sound effect. Once not eligible for the tournament themachine flashes “Not in Tournament” accompanied by a sound effect.

The trigger process 800 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Each gaming machine ofthe gaming system communicates 810 its eligibility or otherwise to thefeature controller of server module 620. The feature controller thendetermines 820 the total number of eligible machines and then broadcasts830 to all gaming machines the current total (E) of eligible gamingmachines and/or other hit rate data which enables the gaming machines todetermine the relevant hit rate and whether to trigger 840. Typically,this is done in a defined reporting cycle such that if the featurecontroller 621 does not receive an eligibility response from an EGM in adefined period, it marks it as ineligible and updates the total E ofeligible machines accordingly. In an alternative embodiment, the totalis only communicated to active gaming machines—i.e. those of the gamingmachines currently being played by players.

More specifically, whenever a game is initiated at a machine, thefollowing process will occur to check for tournament trigger andeligibility:

-   -   1. Determine 820 how many machines are eligible for the        tournament based on the received hit rate data (in the above        example, the determination involves receiving the number of        eligible machines).    -   2. Determine whether to trigger 840 by selecting a random number        between 1 and X, where X varies in accordance with the number of        active gaming machines and the number of gaming machines on the        bank. X=(N/T)*E where N is a number selected to control the        frequency, E is the number of eligible machines and T is the        total number of machines on the bank (i.e. that may be        eligible).    -   3. If the selected number is 1 then the gaming machine's client        module 620 will:        -   a) Notify the feature controller 621 of Master 10A that a            tournament feature has been triggered.        -   b) Play a base game according to the base bet (the base bet            will then apply in the feature game).        -   c) Display the tournament banner and disable further play of            the base game 631A.        -   d) Notify the feature controller 621 that the machine is            ready to commence the tournament feature and also the amount            that was bet on the game that just completed.    -   4. Otherwise if the selected number is not 1 (i.e. not a        trigger) then:        -   a) Play a base game according to the base bet.        -   b) Check whether a tournament feature has been triggered by            another machine since the start of the game (and keep            checking until either another game is initiated or a total            of 5 seconds (or other suitable period) has elapsed since            the last game completed whichever is the sooner).        -   c) If a tournament has been triggered then:            -   i) Display the tournament banner and disable further                play.            -   ii) Notify the feature controller 621 that the machine                is ready to commence the tournament feature and also the                amount that was bet on the game that just completed.    -   5. If a feature is triggered by any machine, the feature        commences 850.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the hit rate data sent to thegaming machines can vary. For example, if the machines know N and T,they can determine X if they are sent E. Alternatively X can becommunicated.

If the feature controller 621 receives more than one tournament featuretrigger notification before the independent play of the machines 10 isdisabled, then the subsequent trigger(s) are buffered along with the betamounts from each of the machines. As soon as the first feature eventcompletes the next one will initiate before independent game play at themachines resumes.

In this embodiment, machines that are not eligible still participate inthe tournament. These machines are still able to receive the multipliervalue multiplied by the qualifying bet which is zero—i.e. so that themachines can win but no win amount will be awarded. The prizes which canbe awarded to respective machine may be revealed once the tournament istriggered. The prizes for any tournament may be the same or different,for example, a maximum prize for the tournament may be selected.

FIG. 9 illustrates the process 900 of the feature game. Once the featureis to start 910 The feature controller 621 notifies all machines 10 thata tournament feature is about to commence. If a machine is in idle modeor not eligible when it receives this notification then it is still todisplay a banner over the game screen with the message “TOURNAMENTFEATURE CURRENTLY IN PLAY”. Any machine, irrespective of whether it iseligible, can finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.

Once the tournament starts all eligible machines have a banner appearover the reels saying “Lucky 88 Tournament”. The game then changes to aset of dedicated reel strips on display 14 under the control of servergame module 620. The reels have designated symbols in the form of goldennugget symbols and blank spaces.

Once the tournament starts all eligible machines have a banner appearover the reels saying “LUCKY 88 Tournament”. The game then changes to aset of dedicated reel strips on display 14 under the control of servergame module 620. The reels have designated symbols in the form of goldennugget symbols and blank spaces.

During the tournament the machines 10 are in free play mode—the reelsspin under control of server game module 633 without any player input orbet such that in each game round a set of symbols are selected 920 foreach gaming machine, namely the display symbols when the reels stopspinning. In this embodiment, the aim of the tournament is to be thefirst to fill in the LUCKY 88 pyramid. As shown in FIG. 7, the Pyramid700 has 21 segments. These are display positions on the display of topbox 26 which may be filled—i.e. there is a designated number of nuggetsthat the player need to obtain. The designated symbol to be chased isthe “Golden Nugget”. Each occurrence of a golden nugget in a reel fillssegment 710 of the pyramid from bottom to top. The current total offilled segments is a progress record of how many symbols the player hasobtained which is updated 930 after each free spin. The machines displaywhere it is coming—the top screen has a position meter 720 below thepyramid. The prize meter 730 of each machine is to be displayed at thetop of the pyramid. This displays what the player may win. The display730 varies from player to player as it is derived from the bet amount inthe base game and five multipliers corresponding to 1st to 5th places inthe game—i.e. all five possible prizes are displayed 730 to the playerbut may be different depending on the player's bet. When the featurecompletes the machines return to independent play of the LUCKY 88 basegame.

Accordingly, the feature controller 621 communicates current positionsto the gaming machines, typically by broadcasting all positions andrelated gaming machine IDs so that each gaming machine 10 can displayits own position and a common display can also interpret, for examplethe top 5 players. The common display may be arranged above the bank ofgaming machines.

The feature controller 621 also controls each of the game machines toconduct the free games synchronously so that each game machine conductsthe same number of play rounds of the feature game. To do so, eachparticipating EGM's client module 630 confirms to the feature controller621 that is has completed a play round (also referred to herein as agame round). The feature controller 621 determines that all machineshave completed the play round and broadcasts that the next play roundshould begin.

The feature controller 621 is arranged to determine a winning machine.In an embodiment, this is done on a first past the post basis—i.e. theend condition for the feature game is that the pyramid is full (adesignated threshold of golden nugget objects having being selected).The first machine to fill all the segments advises the featurecontroller 621 that is has done so and the feature game controller 950awards it a win. Awards are also made to the 2nd to 5th machines basedon current totals of other machines. Accordingly, it will be appreciatedthat after each game round it is determined 940 whether an end conditionis met. In another embodiment, prizes are awarded to the first fivemachines to reach the designated number of gold nugget symbols.

If there are ties, these can be arbitrated in accordance with knowntechniques, including by splitting prizes, awarding the same prize toall machines or by determining based on one or more rules which machinewins. For example, based on which EGM's win message is received first,or based on a countback system where the number of nuggets in the lastround are compared to see which machine has the most nuggets and ifrepeating the comparison (if necessary), until one machine has morenuggets than the others.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that other functionalitycan be linked to the network. For example, a group display may be addedto the network which can display leading participants.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than one of the EGM's 10 acting asthe feature controller, a dedicated feature controller can be providedin the network.

In another alternative embodiment, the players may compete towardsachieving some other outcome (which provides the end condition). Inother embodiments, prizes may be awarded based on both who is first toachieve the outcome and time taken to achieve the outcome. In otherembodiments, there may be a fixed number of game rounds and prizes maybe awarded based on the positions of the players at the end of the fixednumber of spins. In such an embodiment, the outcome may be divided intoa number of separate levels and prizes may additionally be awarded basedon the level the player has attained during the number of game rounds.In each case a player progress record is updated 930 for each playerafter each game round.

In some embodiments, the players may have to interact before, during orafter play of the tournament to make decisions which affect the overalloutcome of the tournament, for example, to select the volatility of thetournament game.

Tournament prizes can take a number of forms and may be fixed prizes,game selections, free games, etc.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the inventionthat many modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, in particular, that features describedherein can be used to form other embodiments.

In an alternative embodiment, where only active gaming machinesparticipate in the feature game, the trigger rate in a single machine isfixed, e.g. 1 in 300 and the chance of the tournament being triggered ishence related to the number of active gaming machines on the bank.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of theembodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could besupplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium,such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part ofmemory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from aserver). The program code could be executed by a more than oneprocessing unit. For example, partly by the server module and partly bythe client (and accordingly spread between a number of differentlocations.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred toherein, such reference does not constitute an admission that thepublication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, inAustralia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of gaming in a gaming systemhaving a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine having acredit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item associatedwith a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the creditbalance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wageringactivity, a display, and a feature controller, the method comprising:establishing a credit balance via said credit input mechanism of agaming machine, receiving the physical item; in accord with havingestablished the credit balance via the credit input mechanism receivingthe physical item, starting via the feature controller a multi-playertournament game in which two or more players compete; conducting via thefeature controller game rounds for each of the two or more players untilan end condition is met, each game round comprising, for each player:(a) selecting via the feature controller a plurality of symbols fordisplay at a plurality of display positions on the display associatedwith the player, (b) determining via the feature controller if adesignated symbol of the plurality of symbols is displayed amongst thesymbols selected for display at the plurality of display positions, and(c) in response to determining a said designated symbol is displayedamongst the symbols selected for display, increasing via the featurecontroller a total number of displayed designated symbols, and updatingvia the controller a player progress record from the displayed symbolsof designated symbols; determining via the feature controller at leastone winning player when the end condition of obtaining a designatedthreshold of displayed designated symbols is met from a player'sprogress record; and making via the feature controller an award to thewinning player, wherein the award awarded to the winning player isderived at least in part from an amount initially wagered by the winningplayer and a time taken to obtain the designated threshold of designatedsymbols.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one playerachieves an outcome.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein theoutcome is that a designated number of designated symbols is reached byat least one of the players and wherein each player progress recordstores a current number of designated symbols and in each game round,the player progress record is updated by determining a number ofdesignated symbols for the round from the displayed symbols.
 4. A methodas claimed in claim 3 comprising, for each game round, visuallyrepresenting each player's record by filling individual ones of aplurality of progress display positions corresponding to the designatedtotal with the number of designated symbols determined for the gameround.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the award is dependentat least partly on the time taken to achieve the outcome.
 6. A method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the end condition is that a designatednumber of game rounds is completed.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 6,wherein the award is based at least partly on the player's positionbased on the player progress record.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 6,wherein the award is based at least partly on a level achieved by theplayer by the completion of the designated number of game rounds.
 9. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein display positions correspond tovisible symbols of respective ones of a plurality of stopped reels andsymbols selected for display for each reel.
 10. A method as claimed inclaim 9, wherein each reel has a reel sequence and the symbols for eachreel are selected by selecting a stop position for each reel sequence.11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game is started as afeature game in response to a trigger event, and the players playindependently prior to the trigger event.
 12. A method as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the trigger event is determined by determining acurrent number of eligible gaming machines; communicating current hitrate data based on the current number of eligible gaming machines to atleast each eligible gaming machine; determining at each eligible gamingmachine whether to trigger the multi-player tournament game at a hitrate based on the current hit rate data.
 13. A method as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the eligible gaming machines are active gamingmachines of a set of gaming machines.
 14. A method as claimed in claim12, wherein the current hit rate data includes the current number ofeligible gaming machines and each eligible gaming machine determines thehit rate from the number.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 12, whereinthe current hit rate data is the hit rate.
 16. A method as claimed inclaim 12, further comprising determining at each eligible gaming machinewhether to trigger the multi-player tournament game as part of each gameround.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the set of symbolsfrom which symbols are selected are specific to the multi-playertournament game.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein thesymbols are comprised of the designated symbol and blank symbols.
 19. Amethod as claimed in claim 11, wherein each player plays a base game onthe gaming machine and the trigger event occurs on the gaming machine ofone of the players.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprisingcontrolling the game rounds with a tournament controller to ensure noplayer has an unintended advantage based on the number of game roundsplayed by each player.
 21. A gaming system comprising: a plurality ofgaming machines, each gaming machine having a credit input mechanismconfigured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary valuefor establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasableand decreasable based at least on wagering activity, and a display, andsaid gaming machines being configured to, in accord with havingestablished the credit balance via the credit input mechanism receivingthe physical item, conduct a multi-player tournament game in which twoor more players compete; and a feature controller configured to: startthe multi-player tournament game in which two or more players compete;conduct game rounds for each of the players until an end condition ismet, each game round comprising, for each player: (a) a selection of aplurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions onthe display associated with the player, (b) a determination of whether adesignated symbol is displayed amongst the symbols selected for displayat the plurality of display positions, c) in response to determiningthat a said designated symbol is displayed amongst the symbols selectedfor display, an increase of a total number of displayed designatedsymbol, and an update of a player progress record from the displayedsymbols of designated symbols; determine at least one winning playerwhen the end condition of obtaining a designated threshold of displayeddesignated symbols is met from a player's progress record; and make anaward to the winning player, wherein the award awarded to the winningplayer is derived at least in part from an amount initially wagered bythe winning player and a time taken to obtain the designated thresholdof designated symbols.
 22. A gaming system as claimed in claim 21,wherein the feature controller is further configured to conduct the gameas a feature game in response to a trigger event occurring in relationto play of a game on one of the gaming machine.
 23. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 22, wherein the feature controller is furtherconfigured to control the gaming machines to conduct the feature game inresponse to the trigger event occurring.
 24. A gaming system as claimedin claim 23, wherein the feature controller is further configured tocontrol the play of game rounds on the plurality of gaming machines suchthat no player has an unintended advantage based on the number of gamerounds played by each player.
 25. A gaming system as claimed in claim23, wherein, the gaming machines are in data communication with oneanother, and the feature controller is implemented by a server module ofone of the gaming machines.
 26. A gaming system as claimed in claim 22,wherein the feature controller is further configured to determine thetrigger event by determining a current number of eligible gamingmachines; communicating current hit rate data based on the currentnumber of eligible gaming machines to at least each eligible gamingmachine; and determining at each eligible gaming machine whether totrigger the multi-player game at a hit rate based on the current hitrate data.
 27. A gaming system as claimed in claim 26, wherein theeligible gaming machines are active gaming machines of a set of gamingmachines.
 28. A gaming system as claimed in claim 26, wherein thecurrent hit rate data includes the current number of eligible gamingmachines and each eligible gaming machine determines the hit rate fromthe number.
 29. A gaming system as claimed in claim 26, wherein thecurrent hit rate data is the hit rate.
 30. A gaming system as claimed inclaim 26, wherein each eligible gaming machine determines whether totrigger the multi-player tournament game as part of each game round. 31.A gaming system as claimed in claim 22, wherein each player plays a basegame on the gaming machine and the trigger event occurs on the gamingmachine of one of the players.
 32. A gaming system as claimed in claim21, wherein the symbols are selected for each gaming machine by a clientmodule of each gaming machine.
 33. A gaming system as claimed in claim32, wherein the client modules communicate data to a server module aftereach game round and the server module is further configured to determineeither that there is a winning player based on the data or to instructthe client modules to conduct at least one further game round.
 34. Agaming system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the end condition is thatat least one player achieves an outcome.
 35. A gaming system as claimedin claim 34 wherein the outcome is that a designated number ofdesignated symbols is reached by at least one of the players and whereineach player progress record stores a current number of designatedsymbols and in each game round, the player progress record is updated bydetermining a number of designated symbols for the round from thedisplayed symbols.
 36. A gaming system as claimed in claim 35, whereinthe feature controller is further configured to cause, for each gameround, each gaming machine visually to represent each player's record byfilling individual ones of a plurality of progress display positionscorresponding to the designated total with the number of designatedsymbols determined for the game round.
 37. A gaming system as claimed inclaim 34, wherein the award is dependent at least partly on the timetaken to achieve the outcome.
 38. A gaming system as claimed in claim21, wherein the end condition is that a designated number of game roundsis completed.
 39. A gaming system as claimed in claim 38, wherein theaward is based at least partly on the player's position based on theplayer progress record.
 40. A gaming system as claimed in claim 38,wherein the award is based at least partly on a level achieved by theplayer by the completion of the designated number of game rounds.
 41. Agaming system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the display positionscorrespond to visible symbols of respective ones of a plurality ofstopped reels and symbols selected for display for each reel.
 42. Agaming system as claimed in claim 41, wherein each reel has a reelsequence and the symbols for each reel are selected by selecting a stopposition for each reel sequence.
 43. A gaming system as claimed in claim21, wherein the set of symbols from which symbols are selected arespecific to the multi-player tournament game.
 44. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 43, wherein the symbols are comprised of the designatedsymbol and blank symbols.
 45. A method of gaming in a gaming systemhaving a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine having acredit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item associatedwith a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the creditbalance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wageringactivity, a display, and a feature controller, the method comprising:establishing a credit balance via said credit input mechanism of agaming machine, receiving the physical item; in accord with havingestablished the credit balance via the credit input mechanism receivingthe physical item, starting via the feature controller a multi-playertournament game in which two or more players compete; conducting via thefeature controller a plurality of synchronous game rounds for each ofthe two or more players until an end condition is met, each game roundcomprising, for each player: (a) a selection of a plurality of symbolsfor display at a plurality of display positions on the displayassociated with the player, (b) a determination of whether a designatedsymbol of the plurality of symbols is displayed amongst the symbolsselected for display at the plurality of display positions, and (c) inresponse to determining a said designated symbol is displayed amongstthe symbols selected for display, an increase of a total number ofdisplayed designated symbols, and an update of a player progress recordfrom the displayed symbols of designated symbols; determining via thefeature controller at least one winning player when the end conditionof 1) obtaining a designated threshold of displayed designated symbolsand 2) determining that the two or more players have synchronouslycompleted a current game round is met from a player's progress record;and making via the feature controller an award to the winning player,wherein the award awarded to the winning player is derived at least inpart from an amount initially wagered by the winning player.
 46. Agaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines, each gamingmachine having a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physicalitem associated with a monetary value for establishing a credit balance,the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least onwagering activity, and a display, and said gaming machines beingconfigured to, in accord with having established the credit balance viathe credit input mechanism receiving the physical item, conduct amulti-player tournament game in which two or more players compete; and afeature controller configured to: start the multi-player tournament gamein which two or more players compete; conduct a plurality of synchronousgame rounds for each of the two or more players until an end conditionis met, each game round comprising, for each player: (a) a selection ofa plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positionson the display associated with the player, (b) a determination ofwhether a designated symbol is displayed amongst the symbols selectedfor display at the plurality of display positions, c) in response to thedetermining a said designated symbol is displayed amongst the symbolsselected for display, an increase of a total number of displayeddesignated symbol, and an update of a player progress record from thedisplayed symbols of designated symbols; determine at least one winningplayer when the end condition of obtaining a designated threshold ofdisplayed designated symbols is met from a player's progress record; andmake an award to the winning player, wherein the award awarded to thewinning player is derived at least in part from an amount initiallywagered by the winning player.
 47. A method of gaming in a gaming systemhaving a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine having acredit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item associatedwith a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the creditbalance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wageringactivity, a display, and a feature controller, the method comprising:establishing a credit balance via said credit input mechanism of agaming machine, receiving the physical item; in accord with havingestablished the credit balance via the credit input mechanism receivingthe physical item, starting a multi-player tournament game in which twoor more players compete; conducting game rounds for each of the playersuntil an end condition is met, comprising filling a structure having aplurality of unfilled segments, each game round comprising, for eachplayer: a) a selection of a plurality of symbols for display at aplurality of display positions on a display associated with the player,b) a determination of whether at least one designated symbol isdisplayed amongst the symbols selected for display, c) a filling of atleast one of the unfilled segments for each designated symbol that isdisplayed in response to the determining that at least one designatedsymbol is displayed amongst the symbols selected for display to therebyprogressively fill said structure, and d) an update of a player progressrecord from the displayed symbols of designated symbols; determining atleast one winning player when the end condition is met from eachplayer's progress record, wherein the end condition is met when all thesegments comprising said structure are each filled in by at least onedesignated symbol; and making an award to each winning player.
 48. Agaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines, each gamingmachine having a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physicalitem associated with a monetary value for establishing a credit balance,the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least onwagering activity, and a display, and said gaming machines beingconfigured to, in accord with having established the credit balance viathe credit input mechanism receiving the physical item, conduct amulti-player tournament game in which two or more players compete; and afeature controller configured to: start the multi-player tournament gamein which two or more players compete; conduct game rounds for each ofthe players until an end condition comprising filling a structure havinga plurality of unfilled segments is met, each game round comprising, foreach player: (a) a selection of a plurality of symbols for display at aplurality of display positions on a display associated with the player,(b) a determination of whether if at least one designated symbol isdisplayed amongst the symbols selected for display, c) a filling of atleast one of the unfilled segments for each designated symbol that isdisplayed in response to determining that at least one designated symbolis displayed amongst the symbols selected for display to therebyprogressively fill said structure, and d) an update of a player progressrecord from the displayed symbols of designated symbols; determine atleast one winning player when the end condition is met from eachplayer's progress record, wherein the end condition is met when all thesegments comprising said structure are each filled in by at least onedesignated symbol; and make an award to the winning player.